Willis Crenshaw
{{Short description|American football player (born 1941)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox gridiron football person
| name = Willis Crenshaw
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1941|7|16}}
| birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| team =
| number =
| status =
| position1 = Running back
| height_ft =
| height_in =
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| college = Kansas State
| NFLDraftedYear = 1963
| NFLDraftedRound = 9 / Pick 114
| NFLDraftedPick =
| NFLDraftedTeam =
| playing_years1 = 1964–1969
| playing_team1 = St. Louis Cardinals
| playing_years2 = 1970
| playing_team2 = Denver Broncos
| career_highlights =
| DatabaseFootball = CRENSWIL01
}}
Willis Clarence Crenshaw (born July 16, 1941) is a former National Football League (NFL) running back from 1964 through 1970.[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CrenWi00.htm "Willis Crenshaw"] at Pro Football Reference.com.
High school and college career
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Crenshaw played for Soldan High School and Kansas State University, where he started out at wide receiver and was a star player;[https://thebigredzone.com/2019/08/14/the-top-100-st-louis-football-cardinals-90-81/ "The Top 100 St. Louis Football Cardinals (90-81): 88. Willis Crenshaw (RB)"], The Big Red Zone, August 14, 2019.[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/willis-crenshaw-1.html "Willis Crenshaw"], College Football at Sports Reference.com. played in the 1963 College All Star Football Game.[https://www.kstatesports.com/news/2013/9/3/56d869b5e4b09292097b80fb_131478224375559323.aspx "Crenshaw Defies Odds to Reach NFL"], Kansas State University Athletics, September 3, 2013. In high school, his main sport was pole vaulting, with a personal best of {{convert|13|ft|2|in|m}}; he started out with a double scholarship at Kansas State, where he recalled being one of approximately 50 Black students, before focusing on football after weight training.
Professional career
=St Louis Cardinals=
Crenshaw was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 9th round in 1963. In 1968 he led the team in rushing with 813 yds and touchdowns (7).
=Denver Broncos=
In 1970 he was traded to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a 3rd-round draft pick; he played one season,Brian Shrout, [https://www.milehighreport.com/2011/4/18/2116935/do-the-broncos-shuffle-draft-related-trades-during-denvers-first-two "Do The Broncos Shuffle: Draft Related Trades During Denver's First Two Decades"], Mile High Report, April 18, 2011.CaptainKirk, [https://www.milehighreport.com/2011/4/21/2122142/denver-broncos-greats-by-the-numbers-33-gene-lang "Denver Broncos Greats... By The Numbers: #33"], Mile High Report, April 21, 2011. although he was listed for the 1971 season.[https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/1971.pdf 1971 Denver Broncos media guide], p. 16.
Later career
Crenshaw later worked selling life insurance, for Monsanto, and as a financial planner.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://jt-sw.com/football/pro/players.nsf/ID/04520111 Willis Crenshaw] at John Troan's Pro Players database, updated April 21, 2018.
{{Bills1963DraftPicks}}
{{St. Louis Cardinals 1963 draft navbox}}
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Category:Players of American football from St. Louis
Category:American football running backs
Category:Kansas State Wildcats football players
Category:St. Louis Cardinals (football) players
Category:Denver Broncos players
Category:20th-century American sportsmen
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